Managing Your Emotions & Triggers in These Trying Times!

During times of HIGH emotional stress, like the COVID 19 pandemic, "triggers" go up for the population as a whole, and especially for those dealing with addiction! The HIGH STRESS can impact us in many ways—Financial fear and instabilityIncreased feelings of anxiety and depression--both individually and sociallyFeeling a lack of emotional safety and stabilitiyIncreased strain on relationships; more time together (which can be good and bad); increased strain on parentsSpiritual stress—is God there for me? Can I trust Him? Will He take care of us? Will we make it through this?Turning to outlets for self-soothing and coping like pornography, substances, gaming, social media, food, etc. How can you COPE? In this episode we talk about:Good "Self-Care"Safe activities; getting outside; mixing up your routine; keeping a solid, reliable structure in placeJournaling and focusing on what you CAN control; living one day at a timeYou MUST stay CONNECTED to those around you—do "emotional check-ins" with spouse AND children; maintain social and recovery connections; give "safe service"Get OUTSIDE your own head!Seek a variety of ways to stay CONNECTED TO GODUse the "First 3 Steps" as a guideVisit the PBSE website at: pbsepodcast.com Find out more about Steve Moore at:  Ascension CounselingLearn more about Mark Kastleman at: Reclaim Counseling Services